Package-capping machine.



E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE- APPLlcAloNvfrlLEn mn. 11. 1914.

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Ptented Nov. 2'?, 1917/1.

13 SHEETS-SHEET l.

GQ G" E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION man MN.11.|914.

Patented Nov.. 2?', 1917.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Kufer/ fi y QM 7. www

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.17,1914.

51.9%@53 Patented Nov. 2?, 191?.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED. 1AN.11. 1914.

` Patented Nov., 27

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191K. 13 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l@ M e M E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I7. |914.

199489033 Patented Nov. 2T?, 19W.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I7. I9I4.

jl, l Patented No 27, 19m

13 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I?. 1914. II mmm Nom 27, 19m

13 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F|LED.1AN.11.1914.

Pamted Nom 2?, i917;

13 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Zza

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE cAPPmG mAcHlNE.

APPUCATIN FILED JAN-17| |914. 31.9@4930 Patented Nom 27, 1917. 13 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAII.I7, 1914.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917rr 13 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN|1| l9l4.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I I.

E. CRAIG.

PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED'JAN.17.1914. L, Patented Nw. 27, 1917,.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I2.

E. cms, PACKAGE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. |914.

Patented Nov., 27, 1917.,

13 SHEETS-SHEET I3.

snsnanr onrron /EDWRD CRAIG, 0F ST. JOSEPH. MICHIGAN, ASSlIGNQR T0 SAJRJNAC MAC CM- ]PNY, 0F BENTON HARBOR, MICMGAN,

A CORPORATION' @F MFCHJIGAN..

IE'CKAGE-CAPPUUG MACHNE.

Leashes.

Speccation of LettersiPatent.

rarentea nov. ea, aan a Application filed January 17, 1914. Serial No. 812,62.

To all whom it may concern: Be it. known that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and

resident of St. Joseph, Berrien county,

'5 Michigan, have invented a certain new and applying thesev paper caps to the food packages, 1n order to render the saine vermin proof, and preliminary to the application of 2t the Wrappers to said packages.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel and highly eHicient machine which will automatically provide the packages with caps or end coverings of t@ the desired character, in a rapid and edective manner, and with as little additional expense `as possible.

A special object is to provide a machine of this kind in'which the packages are automatically fed into position to receive the paper caps, and in which the paper from which the caps are made is automatically fed from rolls, or in any other suitablemanner, whereby the packages-are automatically capped without any necessity of handling or manualmanipulation thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved foldin and pasting mechanism, in a machine of t is kind, which will insure a perfectly tightandedective sealing of the ends of the packages, more especiallyat the corners thereof, and whereby the caps thus formed for the packages will not interfere with the subsequent application of the pao@ per wrappers llt is also an object to provideV certain details and features of coction and novel are filled with the food. Fn order to prop- F combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and serviceability of a box or package sealing orcapping machine of this par-v ticular character. v

To the foregoing andY other useful ends my invent-ion consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a capping machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said machine. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and2, with certain port-ions thereof broken away for convenience of illustration.

portion of the said machine, showing certain parts thereof in section, and illustrating the position of the package (in dotted lines) before the application of the caps thereto, and during the said operation, the two sheets of paper being shown fed linto position at opposite ends of the package. view similar to Fig. d, but showing the ositions ofthe different parts during the olding operation. F ig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the paper eeding and paste applying mechanism which is disposed above the machine, and whichl for convenience of illustration. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7-7 in Fig. y3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper portion of the machine, illustrating the automatic feed mechanism for feeding the packapes into posi ion for receiving the caps, and a so illustrat' g the construction and Inode of operation of a which the paper downward at each end of the package. Fig.

9 is an enlarged section on line 9-9 in Fig.

ig. d is an enlarged front elevation of a Figxisa is omitted from Fig. 1'

thatd they are reversed orportion of the` means by is automatically pulled titl turned end for end. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line 1 0-L10 in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is an enlar detail perspective view of 'a portion of the mech for folding paper upon and about the square ends of the package. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 in Fig. 6, showing tinel central portion of the horizon connecting shaft lbroken away for convenienceof illustration. Fig.13 is an enlarged front elevation of the mechanism shown at the left in Fig. 1i, illustrating the form and character of the pivoted member by which the two rolls are separated when it is desired to remove or shift thepape'r.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of thepackage with the two paper caps applied thereto.

Fig. 15 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view, on a large scale, on line 16-16 in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view on line 17-17 in Fig. 9. Fig. 18 is a perspective of one of the elements of the folding mechanism. Fig. 19 is a perspective of another element of the folding' mechanism. Fig. 20 is a perspective ofthe package, showing the manner in which the rectangular sheets of paper are applied to the ends thereof, the machine operating to fold the upper and lower. edges irst, and the side edges being folded last. Fig. 21 is a detail sectional view, ina horizontal plane, of one of the grippers by which theI two sheets of paper are pulled downward in front of the opposite ends of the package. Fig. 22 is a fragmentary or detail sectional view showing the vertically reciprocating element by which the packages arelowered one by one from the hopper into position to be pushed forward by the automatic feed mechanism.

As thus illustrated. and referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 7. it will be seen that my invention comprises a body frame composed of upright side castings, A, which are mounted on a base, a, being properly spaced apart-to provide space between them for certain operative elements of the machine. The top ofthe body frame thus provided is formed by a table, B,hav ing parallel guides, l), at the rear end thereof, said guides providing a horizontal way for the reciprocating plunger, C, which latter travels back and forth on said table. Above the said guide way and plunger a belt pulley, c. is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis. being provided with a flat belt,

c1 upon which the 4packages are placed by the attendant, and whereby the said packages are fed to the chute or hopper, c2, which latter is composed of curved bars forming a passage or hopper-like space between' them. lVith this arrangement, the packages are fed forward and then downward, the lowermost package being held in waiting position above the plunger. C. by the vertical reciprocating shoulders, c (see'Fig. 22) until after the said plunger has moved to the extreme right in Fig. T. and at which time the Said shoulders. c3, move downward to bring the package onto the table and-directly in front of said plunger. rlhe said shoulders, c3, are mounted on vertically disposed rods, c4, which have their lower ends fixed in a cross bar or oke c5, dis osed below the table, it being observed that the said .rods extend up and down at opposite sides of the said table and guidcways for the plunger. The vertical reciprocating rod, c, is mounted in a bearing, 0 7, onthe frame or body of the machine, and the-lower end of this rod has a link connection, 08, with the end of the bell crank lever, c9, which is mounted to rock on the shaft, 61, and which is connected by a pitman, 011, with the rotary cam, 012, on the main drive shaft, D, which latter is disposed at the bottom of the -machine and supported in suitable bearings on the said shaft, cmgand which is in turn' connected by a pitman, c1, with the cam` c, which latter is also mounted on said drive shaft and provided with a suitable cam groove for engaging and operating said pitman in a manner that will be readily understood. Thus, the package feeding mechanism is operated automatically fromF the shaft, D, and in a manner to successively push the packages forward andinto a position to have the paper caps applied thereto. It may also be stated, at this point in the description of the construction and operation of the machine, that the package to which the caps have been applied is pushed out of the way by the next package. The capped package is pushed onto the traveling belt, E, which operates to then convey the package to a point an)1 desired distance i from the machine. This belt, E is driven by a 'sprocket chain, e, extending to a sprocket on the shaft, D, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. `7. A sprocket wheel on the shaft, e1, is then connected by a sprocket chain, e2, with a sprocket on the shaft, 01, in the manner shown. A smaller sprocket on the shaft, 01, is then connected by a sprocket chain, e3, with a sprocket on the shaft, e, whereby the pulley. c, is'rotated in the direction indicated. The packages in the hopper, c2. are stationary while the folding operation is being performed on the package which has been fed into position. Before the plunger, C, moves forward, however, the shoulders, c3, move downward, thereby causing all of the packages in the hopper to move forward and downward. bringing the lowermost package into position to be pushed forward by the plunger, C, in the manner explained. While the said ',.plungen C, is moving backward and to the right, as shown in F ig: 7, the shoulders, c3, are iagain supporting the lowermost packi age, the'said shoulders having been caused sition, while the paper caps are being applied thereto, is as follows:

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the table B is rovided with tracks F, upon whchthe pac ages are pushed'forward by the'plunger C, and horizontal .plate f for receiving said packages. A vertically disposed plate f1 is provided with an opening through which the packages are pushed onto the plate f, and at the other side of the said supporting plate f a yielding stop f2 is arranged in position to limit the forward movement of the package, said stop being pivoted at its lower end and yieldingl)v held in normal position by a spring f3, whereby eachp'ackage may be pushed oli' from plate n f, when finished, by the next or succeeding package. As soon as a package has'be'en capped, it is then pushed over the stop f2, as

` the vlatter swings outward and downward under the pressure. As soon as this package is out of the way said stop then springs back into normal position to hold the fresh package in place. Pressure is exerted upon the top of each package by the shoe or plate'ft, which is carried on vertically disposed rods fz, in the manner shown in Fig. 7. Thesef rods f5 are mounted to reciprocate in the stationary supporting plate f, which latter is disposed over the position in which the package is held Iwhile being capped. Springs f are applied to said rods at points between the plates f4 and f, whereby the said plate f4 is yieldingly held upon the package. Preferably, and as shown, the forward edge of the plate ftfis turned up at fs for the purpose of enabling the packages to slide readily below said plate. rihus the packages are squarely and edectively held in position to have the paper ca s applied thereto.

The means for olding and applying the paper caps to the ends ofthe paper packages are as follows:

Referring to Figs. l, 4, 5, 9, 1l, 17, 18 and 19, it will be seen that the table B is provided at each side with' an extension b1 which supports the guideways b2 in alinement with each other, at opposite ends of the package,` when the latter is in position for receiving the caps. As the folding mechanism at one side of 'the machine is exactly the same as the folding mechanism at the other side, a description of the aan shown at the left in Fig. 1 will be suihcient.w Referring, therefore, to Fig. 9, it will be seen that theisaid guideway b2 has mounted y thereonV a horizontally disposed plunger G which is hollow, and square in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 17, said plunger being arranged with its end extending toward the end of the package X (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9) and supported for horizontal endwise reciprocating movement. At the end of the inner plunger Gl which is juxta posed to the end of the package, it is provided with upper and lower folding plates g and g1 which are integral with the vertically disposed plate g2, which latteris secured in a'suitable manner to the end of said plunger Gt. These folding plates g` and g1 operate first to produce the folded condition of the caps Y shown in Fig. QOTthat is to say, vthe upper and lower edges of these rectangular sheets of paper are folded upon the upper and lower surfaces of the package in the manner shown. The said folding plates g and g1 are provided at each side edge thereof with rollers g3. The plunger G is connected by a link g4 with a bell crank lever g5 `which latter is pivoted on the frame at ge, as shown moreclearly in- Fig. 3., The lower end of this bell crank lever is connected b a link g7 with the cam device g8 on the sha D, which' cam device can be of any suitable character. With this arrangement the rotation of said shaft D serves to reciprocate the plunger G toward and away from the end of the package. A rod gf extends longitlidinally through the plunger G1 and is provided at its end with a plate g1"l which bears against the paper cap Y to hold the same firmly and flat-wise against the flat end surface of the package, during the folding operation. The outer end of the rod g is prvided with a nut g which bears against the bumper plate g12 on the removable cap 913 which is secured upon the end of the plunger G1, whereby backward movement of the latter in a direction away from the package will cause the rod gt and the plate g1 to be restored to normal position. 1n order that the plers G and G1 may continue mo toward the .package after the plate glo has engaged and clamped the sheet of paper upon the end of the package, the outer end portion of the plunger G1 is provided with a chamber 14 which contains a spring g, said spring ing in the form of a coil encircling the rod g". It will be seen that the said spring is interposed between a shoulder gw on the said rod and anotherl shoulder provided' by the inner surface of the cap g, whereby the tension f the spring is positively exerted in a manner-to move the rod g toward the package. rll`he cap g is connec to the plunger G by means of springs g", two at each side of said plunger (see Figs. e and 5), whereby a Ward the package after the plate 92 has ensition shown in Fig. 5.

countered the plate, 91, thus permitting the plunger G to continue its forward movement after theupper and lower folders 9 and 91 have performed their' function and reached the limit of their forward movement. The vertically disposed plate 918 is secured to the end of the plunger G, at-a point outside of the plate 92, whereby the said plate 92 is disposed between the plates 91 and 912, in a manner illustrated in Fig. 9. The plate 918 is provided with parallel and vertically disposed side plates 919, recesses 92 -being provided between the side edges of the plate 912 and the inner surfaces of the plates 912, in the manner shown in Fig. 18. The folding fingers 921 are four in number, are disposed in vertical planes, and are pivoted to the plates 91 at 922, whereby said fingers are so arranged that their forward end portions 923 are adapted to swing up and down. Springs 921 are applied to the pivotal mountings of said fingers, in any suitable manner, whereby each linger slides on the inner surface of one of the plates 919, thereby producing sufficient friction to hold the fingers in the position shown in Fig. 9, which is the normal position, or in the operative po- For the purpose of returning these fingers to normal position, when the plungers move backward, the rear end of each finger is provided with a cam portion 925 which is adapted to engage one of the upper and lower rolls 92, which latter are mounted on any suitable stationary portion of the machine.. lVhen thecam portions 925 engage the rollers 922. the said fingers 921 are thereby moved into the position"shown in Fig. 9, whereby they are thus placed in condition to be moved forward toward the package. The plates 919 have secured thereto extension plates 922, which latter are provided with the curved folders 928, which latter bend and fold the side edges of the sheets of paper forming'the caps, when the plungers are moved forward. The fingers 921 are for the purpose of doubling over the corner portions y of the caps (see Figs. 14 and 20), after the side edges y1 have been folded into position by the folders 928. This is accomplished by engagement of the upper edges of said fingers 921 with the rolls 92, as the plunger VGr moves forward, whereby the said fingers are moved into the position shown in Fig. 5, thus doubling over the said corner portions y in the manner shown in Fig. 14.' Thus the upper and lower edges 1/2 of the caps are folded first, then the side edges y1, and then the corner portions y which are, of course, of double thickness. It will also ,be seen that the folders 922 are provided with rollers 922 which are disposed immediately behind the upper and lower edges of said folders in the manner -shown in Fig.v 11, and which are arranged to rotate f about'vertical axes. These rollers, when the `plungers move forward, help to firmly press the side edges 91 of the caps against the f sides of the package, whereby these edge portions will be madevto firmly adhere to the package. Fig. 5 it will be seen that these rollers 922 pass over the corner portions y'of the caps when the plungers are retracted to normalk position. Thus these corner portions y are first folded into proper position by the fingers 921, and are then rolled firmly into position by the rollers 929 when the plungers return to normal position. Thus the sheet of paper is first clamped to the end of the package by the plate 91; the upper and lower edge portions y2 ofthe cap are then folded upon the package by the folders 9 and 91; then the folders 928 fold the edge portions 91 against the package, after which the fingers 921, by means of their engagement with the rollers 92, double over the corner portions or two-ply sections y of the caps, whereby these corner portions are caused to extend toward each other at the sides of the package; and then the said corner portions y are compressed tightly to the package by the rollers 929 to cause these portions of the caps to adhere to the package and thereby effectively seal the same in thev desired manner. As previously explained, theseV operative parts are all restored to normal position as shown in Fig. 9 upon the outward movement of the upper end of the bell crank lever 95whereby lthe mechanism is placed in position for another operation.

The means for Vcutting the paper, whereby rectangular sheets of the proper size for the caps are provided,I is as-follows:

A stationary knife H is disposed directly above the end ofthe package,l and a little in advance thereof, as shown in Fig. 9. The coperating movable knife h is arranged to move back and forth below the said stationary knife, and is .carried on the end of a slide or movable plate k1, which latter is mounted in any suitable ymanner on some stationary portion of the machine. The said slide or plate h1 is connected by toggle links h2 and with the block h4, which latter is secured in a suitable manner -to the Also again referring to they upper surface of the plunger G, as shown i' lin Figs. 1 and 9. The toggle joint thus lill retaper e,

moved forward, but at a. constantly decreasmg speed, owing to the control exercised by the link h5 over the toggle joint, wherebyv the knife h has only sulicient movement ,to 5 carry it a little beyond the shearing edge of the stationary knifeltL, thereby cutting od the sheet of paper which is fed downward between these knives in the manner shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood, of course, that` this cuttin mechanism is duplicated at the other side of the machine, whereby the two sheets of paper are cut od simultaneously at opposite ends of the package, and immediately in advance v.of the folding operation.

Means forvfeeding the paper into position, and for smearing the surface thereof with paste or other adhesive, are also provided, and are constructed and operated as follows:

Paste receptacles l are disposed above the machine and mounted on standardsz' in any suitable or desired manner. As the feeding and past-ing mechanism at one side of the machine is identical with that at the other side, a description of one will be sufficient. Referring therefore to Figs. 6, 12l and 13, it will be seen that the paste receptacle ll shown at the left is provided with a paste roll 1 which is disposed in bearings 'i2 at each side of the receptacle; and which ro' tates in the paste or glue orother adhesive. 4'llhe shaft or axle of the said roll is connected by bevel gears l', with the shaft 3, at whereby the corresponding roll at the other side of the machine is driven in unison with the said roll 1, and whereby the two long strips or sheets of pape are fed simultaneously to the preiiious'lv described cuttingJ and folding devices at the opposite ends of the package. Any suitable arrangement can be employed, it will be understood, for communicating po er to these paste rolls from the shaft D as, for example, by means of the shaft D' and the bevel gears i", if' and i. (See Figs. 6 and 10). The bearings/a'2 are provided with upwardly and outwardly extending extensions i" having slots is in which are mounted the movable bearing blocks i for the clamping or idler roll 1 by which the paper Z isheld firmly against the paste covered surface of the roll 1, as'

shownin Fig. 12. Springs i are provided for eging the bearing blocks i9, whereby the roll i exerts a yielding pressure against the roll 1,'whereby the two rolls may be separated when it is desired to remove or i shift the position of the paper, the two rolls being preferably geared together, by gearing l2, in any suitable manner. A bail.- sha handle 12 is pivoted upon the exten sion i' at i in any suitable iannedp and arran-t` in ws to 1| g :l e t e en rtions gilet them shaft or axle of the ro pgn,

paper becomes coated with the paste, and 75 Y ,thence downward and over the edge portion'z', as shown Jin lEig. 12, before con tinuing downward to the cutting and foldmg mechanism. This edge portion 15 of the receptacle l scrapes od the surplus to paste or glue, causing the surplus to How into the said receptacle. Previously, however, the greaterpart of the surplus has been removed from .the surface of the paper bythe pivoted scraper 16 which is disposed et in position to bear against the under side of the paper as it emerges from between the two rolls, thus causing the surplus to drop back into the receptacle. 'llhe feeding movement communicated to the paper by the 9o positive rotation of the roll l is, it will be seen, of a continuous nature, but is not fast enough to overfeed. the paper, and does not supply the paper faster than is necessary to form an accumulation thereof while o5 the folding operation is taking place. rl`his accumulation of the paper takes place immediately above the knives H and L, and

is produced by causing the paper to sag between the paste mechanism and the said w@ knives. whereby this sagging portion or accumulation becomes available for the next cap. For this purpose, the paper is caused to travel downward through a guide l which is disposed immediately above the tot said knives, and which is provided with swinging fingers j which hang in position t to bear against the4 adhesive surface of the paper at their lower ends. I'llhis guiding arrangement of the paper is, of course, du- 1w plicated at the other side of the machine, and

a description of the one shown in lFig. 9 will be sulicient. 'After the knife it has moved forward, thereby cutting od the sheet of paper, the end portion of the conme tinuous sheet remains stationary in the guide J, whereby the continuous feeding movement of the roll t1 causes the paper to sag between this guide and the paste mechanism. For the purpose of pulling la@ down the slack or aecnlated portion of the paper, after the folding mechanism has returned to nol position, in order to br the paper into position to be again severed by the im a set ot vertically we recipting grippers four in nber, are provided and a to the lower corners of the paper. 'llhese grippers are `each constructed as shown in lFig.

21, being compos@ of cooperating laws t t8@ acter.

-and lower bars 709.

ranged between the and 701, the jaw k being fixed to the upper end of the rod k2, and the jaw 701 being fixed to the upper end of ithe tube or sleeve 703 which incloses said rod. The said vertically disposed tubes 703 are clamped at their lower ends by the split end portions 701 of the parallel and horizontally disposed bars 705, which latter are rigidly connected together by the parallel bars 705, whereby a frame is provided which is movable up and down. The rods 702 have their lower ends secured to the crank arms 701, which arms extend horizontally and have their outer ends connected by links ,708 with the blocks 709. It will be seen that these blocks are connected in pairs by the cylindric portions 701, and are arranged to slide horizontally in guideways 7011 formed between the upper Vertically disposed plates 7012, suitably 'spaced apart and rigidly connected together by portions 7019,0are arbars 705, in the manner shown in Fig. 15, and are provided with cam slots 7011; through which extend the said portions 7019, as shown in Fig. 16, this being the normal condition of the parts. The vertical member 7015 is rigidly secured to plates k12, and is provided at its upper end with a platel 7015 which engages the stationary and vertically disposed guides 7011, which latter are suitably secured to the frame or body of the machine. The said guides 701-7 have their lower ends connectedv together by a plate 701?, this plate having an opening in which the member 7015 reciprocates or slides up and down. Normally the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16, whereby the four grippers K are in the positions shown in Fig. 4 being disposed at this time in a common horizontal plane a little below the package. The member 7015 is connected by a link 7019 with the bell crank lever 702o mounted on the shaft 01, which lever is in turn connected by a pitman 7021 with the cam mechanism k22 on the shaft D, which mechanism may be of any suitable known or approved char- 1 With this construction, and when the shaft D rotates, the long arm 702 of the `bell crank lever moves up and down, thereby causing the link 7019 to move the member 7015 up and down. The said cam mechanism k22, and the said connections, are so timed in their operation that the member 7015 starts upward while the folding mechamsm is operating on the ends of the package, the slide or knife plate 701 being provided at each side edge thereof with a notch 7:23. through which the grippers K` pass while moving upward. Inothis way the said grippers assume a waitin position in a horizontal plane immediate7 above the knife plate 701, being open at this time, in the manner shown in Fig. 21. As soon as the cutting and folding mechanism has been retracted to normal position, as shown in Fig. 4,' the grippers K are then closed by the downward movement of the member 7015, it being observed that the downward movement of the plates 7012 takes place while the bars 709 are standing still, by reason of the fact that the tubes or sleeves 703 extend upward through friction boxes 7021, which latter may be of any suitable character. The cam slots 7011 are disposed at such an angle, as will be seen, (see Fig. 16) that the downward movement of the plates 7012 causes the cylindric portions 7010 vto move away from each other, thereby rotating the rods 702 in a direction to close the jaws 701 ofthe grippers, by movement of the jaw from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2l to the position in full lines. lVhen the por; tions 7019 reach the upper ends of the slots 7011, the bars 7:5 then begin to move downward, and the said grippers K having been closed upon the sheets of paper, by the rotation of the rods k2, in the manner explained, it necessarily follows that the two sheets of paper are jerked downward and into the positions shown in Fig. 4; it being understood that the groove of the cam mechanism 7022 can be of such character that the grippers K are caused to open a little, by slight upward movement of the member 7015, as soon las said grippers have reached the limit of their downwardmovement. In other words and by reason of the -lost motion connections provided by the slots k and cylindric portions 7019, the member 7015 and the plates 7012 move upward a distance before the grippers K begin to move in the same direction, and vice versa. when the cam mechanism 7022 begins to move the member 7015 downward, the said grippers then remain in their elevated positions before partaking of the said downward movement. It is in this way, and by this lost motlon connection, that the said grippers are opened and closed automatically, whereby the paper is gripped and pulled downward, and is then released in order to permit the clamping plates y19 to clamp the severed end portions of the paper strips against the ends of the package, in the manner previously explained. ,It will :be understood, of course, that various expedients can be employed with a view to timing the different parts in their operation for the purpostehof causing the different steps involved in proper sequence and in the manner and for the purpose explained. At the time/that the grippers K grip the corner portions of the strips of paper, and before thesaid grippers begin to move downward, an accumulation of the paper has been produced be- ,tween thel guides J and the paste mecha- .nism, causing a sagging of the paper, owing to the continuous operation of the paste e general operation to occur in their rolls. accumulation or slack portion of the paper is immediately taken up or eliminated by the downward movement of the grippers; and while the folding opera-r or manual manipulation thereof. The packt ages are fed to the folding mechanism, in the manner previously described, and are delivered from the machine in `a properly capped or sealed condition. The paper employed for t-he caps may be of an suitable or desired character, but is pre erably of a light and Hexible character, whereby the various cutting and folding operations are easily .performed in the desired manner, and

whereby the cost. of capping the packages is practically reduced to a. nominal amount. lEach cap, as described, is formed from a square or rectangular sect-ion of the paper, automatically cut from the downwardly fed sheet. Also, and as shown, the relative arrangement of the parts is preferably such that the folded edge portions y2 of the caps extend over onto the upper and lower surfaces of the package to a greater extent than do the folded edge portions y1 at the sides of the cap. lin thisway, and as shown, the corner portions or two-ply sections y adhere directly to the side surfaces of the package, as well as to the portions y1 of the cap. 'lhis insures an edective and tight sealing of the ends of the package and results in a formation and construction lof the cap which holds it in place. llt will be understood, of course, that each package, after being supplied with these vermin-proof end caps, is then provided with a paper wrapper which is folded and sealed at the ends of the package. Thus, by my invention, ll make it possible to cap the packages by machinery,

in a rapid and lnerpensive manner, and in a, way that renders eceary any edort to make the or outside wrapper of the packge in any Way verminroof. lin other Words, the pasteboard boa fr such as oatmeahis supplied withi'end caps of thin paper, by the mechanical operations heretofore described, and in a n; i n er that then and there renders the package entirely vermin-proof. Conently, and as stated, the subsequent `nrapp of the package does not involve any provision tor rendering the packages im. t-proof, as this contincy has been taken care of by the caping and sea oty the ends of the panzkagee ith a machine of the tore oing oharacmr et no complicated en ot J e is reed with food,

quired, as in each case only a straight cnt is necessary for each cap. In other words, a machine of this character is lcapable of converting a square or rectangular section of paper into a rectangular cap having flanges along the four sides thereof, which flanges are caused bythe machine to adhere to the flatsides of the package, lthus obviating the necessity of any cutting operations for the corners of the caps. 755

l do not limit myselfto the exact con# struct-ion shown and described.

What l claim ashmy invention is 1. capping machine for sealing'th'e-ends of packages, comprising means for holding a package in position t0-receive the cap, mechanism forfeeding sheet material on to the end of the package, a clamp for holding the sheet in position, instrumentalities for folding the marginal portions of the sheet upon the sides of the package, thereby formingyoutstanding sections of the material be; ,y tween said portions, and devices for folding each section upon one of said portions while the package is still in said position.

2. 'llhesaid machine (substantially as set forth in-"clairn l), and provisions for simultaneously apply-ing a similar cap "to the other end of the package. 4

3. The said machine (substantially as set forth in claim 1), and provisions for applying an adhesive tothe entire inner surface of said sheet before the same is fed into position.

l. The said machine (substantially as set forth in claim l), and provisions for automatically feeding the packages tof said ill means."

5. rl`he said machine (substantially as set forth in claim l), and provisions for cutting the said sheet from a strip, operative to sever the material in advance i of the operation oit said clamp.

6. The said machine (substantially as set forth in claim l), the said instrnmentalities being operative to fold said portions along lstraight lines to locate each section at one corner of a. rectangle, and said devices operating to press together two parts of each section.

7. 'llliesaid machine (substantially as set forth in claim l), and provisions for simultaneously applying a similar cap to the other end of the package, the said instrumentalities being operative to told said porl2@ tions along straight lines to 4locate each section at one corner of a rectangle, and said devices operative to prem together two parts ot each section.

8. The said machine (substantially as set lat forth in claim l), and provisions for applying an adhesive to the entire inner surface of said sheet before the same is fed into position, the said instrnmentalities being operlill] ative to fold said portions along straight 

